‘It’s Never Too Late’: How UNCF Scholarships Empower Nontraditional Students
Sheila Douglas from Shreveport, LA, grew up watching the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars® telethon but never imagined she would become a UNCF scholar. Now in her 60s, she’s a three-time UNCF scholarship recipient, most recently awarded the Doris and John Carpenter Scholarship. A two-time graduate of UNCF-member institution Wiley University, Douglas is currently pursuing a doctorate in business at Liberty University.
“If I hadn’t received this scholarship, my educational life wouldn’t look so bright right now. I’d be in a lot of student loan debt,” said Douglas. After putting her two sons through college and experiencing the student loan process with them, she wasn’t interested in applying for additional loans. While applying for scholarships, she remembered the impact of watching student testimonials on the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars® telethon, and it inspired her to apply for UNCF scholarships.
She started her college journey at 17, attending Southern University (SUSLA) in Shreveport and working part-time as a secretary in the library. While at SUSLA, she juggled work, night classes, marriage and motherhood. As a pastor’s wife, her time was spent organizing and planning church activities while her husband preached sermons and church revival at night. She put school on hold after having her first child, but never gave up on her dream of returning to earn her degree in business administration.
Forty years later, she returned to SUSLA as a nontraditional student, earning three associate degrees and three certifications. She wanted to continue her education and an advisor at SUSLA and church member recommended she apply to Wiley University. “I knew it was the right choice for me because it was a Christian religious institution with spiritual ethical morals beliefs and values,” said Douglas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, organizational management at Wiley University in 2023. As a student at Wiley, her most memorable experience was speaking at the baccalaureate dinner in 2023 and being on the president’s dean’s list, graduating with honors.
Through UNCF scholarships, Douglas was able to complete her bachelor’s degree debt-free. “I didn’t owe any student loans. That was a blessing to be able to just walk away debt-free with a degree,” she said. After graduating from Wiley, Douglas started her master’s at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, but due to financial constraints and limited scholarships she returned to Wiley University to finish her degree in 2025.
“I’m thankful and grateful to be a UNCF scholarship recipient,” she shared. “I’m a pastor’s wife, that’s why I was this late returning back to college to finish what I started. But I would like to let everyone know that it’s never too late to finish what you started and you’re never too old to finish your dreams.”
Outside of pursuing her doctorate degree and publishing her memoir, Douglas plans on teaching accounting and business courses online, mentoring students and helping them with scholarships, fellowships and endowments.
UNCF is proud of our students and alumni who have received scholarships that help them continue their education and graduate. These scholarships are invaluable to students, and UNCF is accepting donations to support students like Sheila Douglas in their academic endeavors.